Lamp-shifting device for automobiles.



R. H. ROBBINS.

LAMP SHIFTNG DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES,

APPLICATION FILED APR.28,1913.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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JNI/ENTOR RUFUS fi ROBBfN ay @m2/www ATTRNE' RUFS H. ROBBNS, 0FSAN-DIEGO, CALEFQRNI..

LAMP-SHIFTING DEVICE FOP. AUTUll/IOBLES.

Lilld.

Application filed pril 2B, 1913.

To all 107mm it muy concerny Be it known that I, RUrUs H. Rename, acitizen of the United States, and a residentof San Diego, in the countyof San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Lamp-Shifting Devices `for Automobiles, 'of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices to be used in connection with thesteering gears o self propelled vehicles for shifting one of the frontlamps thereof, and moreparticularly adapted 'for automobiles, forshifting said lamps simultaneously with the shifting or turning of thefront wheels of said automobile, leaving one oi' the lamps straight withthe frame of the machine, and the objects of my invention are, first, toprovide a device to be used in connection with the steering gear of theautomobile ior shifting one of the lamps so as to throw the light in thedirection the automobile is to travel, and leave one of them straightT'ith the frame of the machine; second, to provide such a c evice thatis simple, durable and easily adapted to different makes of machines,and third, to provide such a device in which there is a slight clearanceso that the lamps will not be shifted with only slight turns or thewabble of the front wheels oi' the vehicle.

lilith these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construc tion,combination and arrangement ot parts as will be hereinafter described indetail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters ofreference thereon which form a part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a plan View of the front portion of an automobile gearshowing my device mounted thereon in operative connection with thesteering gear and showing by dotted lines on one side theshiftedpositions of the axle, and lamp, and Fig. 2 is al side elevational viewof said front portion Similar characters' oit' reference refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views.

The connecting arm l, inner shifting rods 2, outer shifting rods 3, bellcranks 4l, bearings 5, lamp connecting rods 6, lamp supports 7, lampbearings 8 and springs 9, constitute the principal parts of mylampshift- `ing mechanism.

The shifting arm l is pivotally mounted Speccetion o'f Letters Patent.

Patented iv ov..

Serial No. 792,923.

centrally over the iront axle on the trame of the vehicle, or if thereis no place upon which it may be mounted, there is provided an extracross-piece l on the frame or" the machine as shown best in Fig. i.'rEhe ends of this arm extend on each side of this pivotal mounting so asto allow a connection either in front or behind the axle of the vehicle.In this instance it is shown behind. To the one end is slidablyconnected a pin 1b which is telescopically mounted in a socket l whichis rigidly mounted on the shifting bar of the vehicle. This telescopicmounting is for the purpose of allowing the pin l to reciprocate 'inthelsocket lc with the up and down movement of the iront portion of theautomobile relatively to the shifting bar caused by the action oi" thelsprings. Mounted on this arm between this pivotal mounting and the pin lare thev inner shifting bars 2 which are provided withrsockets 2a ontheir outer ends in which are reciprocally mounted the outer'shiftingbars 3. These bars are adapted to reciprocate inthe sockets 2, and thereis al slight clearance leit between the end of the piece 3 and thebottom of the socket 2 to allow slight play so the lamps will not wabhlewith the slight wabble of the machine when running. These outer shiftingbars 3 are pivotally mounted on bell cranks 4 pivotally mounted onopposite sides ot the trame on bearings To the other arms of the bellcranks 4e are pivotally connected lamp shifting rods 6, the other endsof which extend forward and connect with arms 7 on the lamp supports 7.These lamp supports 7 are bifurcated pieces adapted to fit the sockctson each side of the lamp and are of the ordinary form. 0n the lowerportion are centrally mounted spindles 7b which are pivotally mounted inthe bearings 8. Between the inner surface of these pivotal bearings 8and the spindle 7b is mounted a torsional spring E) which is attached tothe spindle and bearing and tends to hold the lamp supports straightwith the Jframe of th-e machine as shown by solid lines in the drawings,

'Though l have shown and described a particular construction,combination and arrangement of parts, Ildo not wish to be lim; ited tothis particular construction, combina'- tion and arrangement, but desireto include in the purview of my invention' the construction, combinationand erre gement sab by mwen e? the teeeepc action of' the ein ,fg bars,MH eau one ef' the lumps to ummm L (l l. f compri appez''s ,yl :immut-yed ein m? the vehlee, Engis 'm @ports endmg 20 n; bell. cranks me *diemy 111g lamp ,e l l y um; with ever the freut :nde of the vehicle mxwhich said pin in sldnby mounted, oppostely dis posed. telescopicmembers pmtnlly mounted on said lever, bel cranks en opposite sfes theframe of said fe-hide pvota'ly eemwei to the outer ends of saidtelescopic members, lamp suppone pivotal@ mmmtel on the 'rmne of theVehicle :md connecting; efs connecting the other membeys of smdbellcranks 'with said lamp suppms.

3. En a hump shifting device for mzomw bes, the Combnaten with theseeling md of sau-idv automobile? of socket meuntec een igl'aly thereon,n verb'cal pin recpmeay monmed therein,1 e lever pvoteff eentmly overthe front arde of the vehicle on which Suid. pin is sldnby mounted,oppostey di@ posed teleropic members pvotzdly meun'te en seid level, behcrank@ on, apposite sides ef the frame of the vehce pvotally een-Hester?. to the miller ende 'of Said *telescopic membes, lamp supports'p'votzflly T en the feme of the *.fede., cemee., eoieegng the @theymembe's et? sind 'be' el'mlks with said amp e'szxppel'ts, sp1- 'inconnection with :saisi lamp suppers tending Je 'held them straight Wh'the frame ef which.

4;. in a, lamp Shfting device iger euten'mbe/ he eembnetien me. 'lampSu)- per'is emekes pvetelly mounted, on lhe from rmne of 'die vehicle, alevel pvetaly muned een'iay over i; Le from; eX'e of h@ vehicle, ben@Yanks zaellme ein the female of the vehicle, telescopic bm's eonnectngsaid lever sith one membel' of euch of Said bell cranks, Coxmeetng msconne@ the @their members of the beu. cfa-nhs with sal lamp supports, mimeans eonneemag said .Genial-ef v molmte 7:ever Wh ghe Steering .1r-edof 'i vehicle.

fn vesimeny whereof, have hereunto 1. by :1z1..x1.3e in the presume el@We w1 messes.

